Drainage
Percutaneous Biliary Drainage (PTBD)
Percutaneous Biliary Drainage (PTBD) is a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure used to treat bile duct blockage (biliary obstruction).
Devices used in PTBD
Alternatives to PTBD
- ERCP with stent placement
- Surgical bypass
How much does PTBD cost?
Medicare national averages for CPT 47533 (Placing an external drainage tube in the biliary duct with imaging guidance). The total bill has two parts: the professional fee paid to the physician, and the facility (technical) fee paid to the hospital or surgery center for the room, staff, equipment and supplies.
| Where it's done | Physician (professional) | Facility (technical) |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital outpatient department | $228 | $3,658 (OPPS) |
| Ambulatory surgery center (ASC) | $228 | $1,744 |
| Office-based lab (OBL) | $1,116 (one "global" payment that covers the physician and the office's supplies, equipment and staff) | |
Medicare physician fee schedule and hospital outpatient/ASC payment rates, national averages before geographic adjustment. Private insurance usually pays more; your share depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Inpatient stays are paid differently (by DRG).
Related reading and technique references
- Cholangiogram
- Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiogram And Biliary Drain Placement Technique and Dictation
- Biliary stent placement and biliary drain replacement Technique and Dictation
- Cholangiogram and Billiary Drain Change Technique and Dictation
- PTC biliary sweep for choledocholithiasis technique and dictation
This page is for education and does not replace advice from your doctor. Device information comes from the FDA's public databases and from manufacturers.